The college admissions process has its own vocabulary. Understanding this vocabulary can make the process less mysterious and more accessible to you. Definitions of some key words are listed below.
Advances Placement Test (AP) – a test taken by high school students, usually at the end of their junior or senior year, after they have completed certain AP courses. Many colleges give advanced standing and/or credit for these College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) sponsored tests if students earn a certain score on them.
ACT – a college entrance examination which measures aptitude and skill in English, Mathematics, Reading and Natural Science. The ACT is nationally recognized, but more often used in the Midwest, South and Far West.
Associate Degree – a degree granted by a college for a program earned in two years.
Baccalaureate Degree – The Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or any other bachelor’s degree granted by a college or university for a program that typically requires four years of full-time study.
CEEB (College Entrance Examination Board) Code Number – NNHS’s CEEB code number is 221555.
It is commonly asked for on college applications and college entrance examination registration forms.
Common Application – an application form developed and widely accepted by participating colleges and universities.
Community College – a two-year public college offering one-year Certificate programs, two-year Associate Degrees, and transfer programs to public and private four-year colleges.
Consortium – Several colleges and universities in one area often join together in a consortium, or cooperative association, which gives students the opportunity to use the libraries and/or take courses at all member institutions.
Cooperative Education – a program in which the student alternates between full-time college study and full-time paid employment related to the area of study. Under this plan the bachelor’s degree often requires five years to complete.
CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE – a financial aid form required by many colleges and universities that helps them award nonfederal student aid funds. You register by filling out a worksheet (on-line) indicating the colleges to which you are applying. They send you a customized application to fill out based on your individual colleges. There is an overall registration fee as well as a fee for each college you want the form sent to in order to be considered for financial aid. Check with each college to know if they require the CSS Profile as not all colleges do.
Engineering or Technical College – an independent professional college that provides four-year programs in the fields of engineering and physical sciences. They are often known as “Institutes of Technology” or “Polytechnic Institutes”.
Fee Waiver – permits eligible students to submit college applications or test registration forms without the fee. A limited number of waivers are available to students who qualify and are obtained through their guidance counselors.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – the primary form used to determine your eligibility for financial aid. Cannot be submitted before January 1st of you senior year. This application is free and is required by all colleges and universities, unlike the CSS Profile which is only required by some schools.
Liberal Arts College – a four-year institution which emphasizes a program of broad undergraduate education.
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) – an athletic governing body to which appropriately 800 colleges and universities belong. Each college or university chooses a general division I, II, or III and is required to follow the policies regarding recruitment and scholarship awards that have been established for that division. Students must file with the NCAA if they intend to play division I or II sports in college.
Postgraduate Year – The “PG” year, as it is often called, is a full academic year of study generally pursued between graduation from high school and matriculation at a college or university.
PSAT – This Preliminary Scholastic Assessment/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a test designed to give juniors an opportunity to practice taking a test which is similar to the SAT Reasoning Test. It is given on a Saturday in October. Scores from the Junior year PSAT’s are used to determine if a student qualifies for a National Merit Scholarship.
SAT Reasoning Test– a college admissions test, graded on a scale from 200 to 800 on three sections: Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. Note: This test was formerly called the SAT I.
SAT Subject Tests – one hour tests offered in subjects such as literature, foreign languages, science, history, and mathematics. These tests measure a student’s knowledge of particular subject areas. Note: These tests were formerly called SAT II Subject Tests.
Technical School – a two-year school which offers occupational programs intended to prepare students for immediate employment in fields related to engineering and other technologies. These schools may offer one-year certificate programs in certain areas.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – a test used to evaluate the English proficiency of those students whose first language is not English.
Wait List – a term used by institutions to describe a process in which they may initially delay offering or denying admission and extend the possibility of admission into the future. Colleges offer admission to wait list candidates if insufficient numbers of regularly admitted candidates accept their offers of admission.
